How to impress a small charter operation

Inverted25

Inverted25

Well-Known Member
I got about 400 hours right now. I releize I need at least the part 135 mins to fly charter but I want to know if theres certain types of flying that will impress a small charter operation in the future. Is CFIing all the way to 1200 the best of should I CFI and say drop jumpers too? Heres why I ask. I live in Ohio close to sandusky airport where griffin flying services is based. They have two king airs b200s, a navajo, a saratoga, two islanders, and they also do flight instruction. They are a family owned business and have been around forever. They do all the mail and passenger service to the lake erie islands plus business charter and flight instruction. From what one pilot told me the two king airs average around 700 hours a year and the navajo flies around 400. The saratoga and two islanders fly daily used for the island mail and airline. They stay really busy and I would love to fly for them one day and was wonder what I should do while building the time to help me build a resume they would like to see. A plus side is i'm friends with the youngest son of the owner so they know who I am. Any advice would be great.
 
If you're friends with the owner's son and they know you, then my guess is you're asking the wrong people for advice on how to get in with them. People here can say what looks good, but they can tell you what they want.
 
This is an easy one, pursue a job as a flight instructor there first. I'm betting that they hire internally for those charter gigs.
 
Tell them you will work for free just for the experience. :)

I really hope I don't need a tag for that.
 
I would try to get on there but right now they just have two singles and a multi they do flight instruction and its just his two sons doing the flight instruction. The only outside pilots they have are the pilots flying charter and island airline flights.
 
I'm heading over there in the next few days to hit up The Point. Good luck and as everyone above said, I'm willing to bet they'll be more willing to bump you up internally than bring a new person in when a sot permits. Just like with any business..

Ryan
 
Jbroz04 said:
I would try to get on there but right now they just have two singles and a multi they do flight instruction and its just his two sons doing the flight instruction. The only outside pilots they have are the pilots flying charter and island airline flights.
Click to expand...

I hate to say it, but some jobs depend on being at the right place at the right time while knowing the right people. It sounds like this place might be that way. There isn't a magical number or type of experience they look for on a resume.

When they have a position open up, they're going to recruit whoever they know and like in the local area. All you can do is find a way to be in the area, get to know them, and hopefully they'll think of you for their next opening.
 
135 ops only want guys with skills. You know, like nunchuku skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills... 135 ops only want guys who have great skills.
 
I would recommend getting a CFI job with them if you can. Try to get as many connections there as possible. Become golfing buddies with the Chief Pilot. Buy a box of donuts for the owner of the company. Getting a charter gig like that is all about knowing the right people and being in the right place at the right time.
 
This might be a foreign concept... But let them know you want to work for them.
Rumor has it, 5 or 6 years ago a low time commercial pilot got himself to manassas, and sat in the front office of colgan until her got an interview. Guess what, he got hired. Once that guy met all the atp requirements he started going to EVERY CAL job fair. Before long all of the recruiters knew him well... he got hired way below competitive minimums at CAL.. just barely old enough to hold an atp.

You can be there at the right time... but it never hurts to make it painfully obvious to them that you will be a hard working, dedicated employee who respects his job. If you know the owner, it would never hurt to drop a hint.. like, "hey, I would love to fly for you guys... is there anything I can do to help out now though?"
 
If you can bring them a charter customer or two, or a student pilot or ten...that's a great way to get your foot in the door.

-mini
 
The advice is great and I thank you guys. I live close to the airport and I stop in there often to chat with a few the workers I know and just to see whats new going on. The owner knows I'm really interested in their operation and he occasionally asks me how things are going so he knows I'm chomping at the bit to work there one day. I am even considering applying to work part time as a line boy there or in the office just to get my foot in the door.
 
Don't assume that he knows you want to work there. If you want him to think of you when there is an opening you had better make sure he knows you want it.

You may be supprised to learn what he really thinks right now. Just be direct an tell him you want to work here.
 
How do you impress a small charter operation? The same way you impress a girl. Tell them you are a pilot with skillz! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top